“We write to ask you for your support of various provisions affecting communities in Pennsylvania that are dealing with contaminated drinking water as a result of the use of firefighting foam at military installations nearby,” the letter stated.
Last spring, the lawmakers, joined by colleagues from other states, implemented a strategy to compel the U.S. military to do more to address groundwater contamination caused by the use of firefighting foams at military bases, a growing problem across the country.
Rather than create independent legislation on the issue, they successfully added amendments to annual, must-pass military spending bills, thus bypassing typical Washington, D.C., gridlock.
Their three major goals?
To create a nationwide health study for residents affected by contamination, such as tens of thousands in Bucks and Montgomery counties; to provide health screenings to such residents to catch any potential ailments; and to add tens of millions of dollars to the military’s cleanup accounts as it addresses a steadily growing number of contamination sites across the country.
In the House, Fitzpatrick, Boyle and Meehan did the same for that chamber’s NDAA bill.
That means members from both the House and the Senate must sit down and hash out the differences between the two chambers’ NDAA bills, and present a new, unified version for a vote to both chambers.
Both contain similar language urging a health study and health screenings.
Air National Guard: $5 million increase for operations and maintenance in the Senate, no mention in House.
The chemicals are currently unregulated.